Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 May 2009
1. Ultrasonic vibration has been shown to be a highly effective means of releasing vaccinia virus from infected HeLa cells.
2. The titre of vaccinia virus obtained from a suspension of infected HeLa cells following ultrasonic vibration is closely similar to that obtained by rapid shaking of the suspension with glass beads. Since these methods are dissimilar in their disruptive action and the titres obtained are higher than those obtained by other methods, they are probably close to the maximum possible yield of virus from these cells.
3. Ultrasonic vibration and shaking with glass beads give higher yields of vaccinia virus from infected HeLa cells than grinding with sand, grinding in a glass TenBroeck tissue disintegrator and three cycles of freezing and thawing.
I am indebted to Prof. H. B. Maitland whose interest stimulated this work. I also wish to thank Dr J. C. N. Westwood for much helpful criticism and Mr R. F. W. Southey for his technical assistance.